Sightings and eyewitness accounts of a strange creature in Loch Ness in Scotland have been reported since the 1930s. It was the aptly titled “Surgeon’s Photograph” depicting a long-necked creature in the loch that began to popularize the legend of the monster.

Since that day, hundreds of people claim to have either seen or taken photographs of the creature, who still captivates the imaginations of tourists and locals alike after all these years

But, the first recorded sighting of this creature was not in the 30s, but reported to have been in the year 565, when Saint Columba came across some men burying another man by the River Ness. 

When Columba questioned them about what happened, they told him a river monster had killed the man. One of Saint Columba’s followers was then accosted by the beast itself while crossing the river, but the Saint was able to ward it off by chanting to it to leave his follower alone.

Of course, the reliability of this story has been called into question – many stories from that era involved mysterious water beasts. Still, the connection between this story and Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster was not made until the 1900s.

Naysayers claim that the monster is little more than a wayward animal or driftwood, which still doesn’t stop visitors from coming by in droves to try and catch a glimpse of the beast.

Legends like the Loch Ness Monster are made by the belief that there’s something out there beyond our current understanding. Sure, it may be a hoax, but along with many other tales of strange creatures, it continues to captivate and raise more questions than they answer.

Honestly, we have no clue if Nessie truly exists, but we can help you lay the groundwork for your own legend, but without the blurry photographs. Call 513-563-PLAN (7526) or head online to talk with us about your financial future!

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®